6 Old School Pro Wrestling Submissions Used in Jiu-Jitsu

I was once nWo for life and a Jerichoholic. Like many, pro wrestling was my first exposure to any form of grappling. While there are crazy gimmicks, characters, and scripted outcomes, many pro wrestlers are trained in amateur wrestling, catch wrestling, judo, and other martial arts. Here are 6 pro wrestling moves that can be also be found in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

#1 The Iron Sheik’s Abdominal Stretch is a Standing Twister
The Iron Sheik was better known for the camel clutch, but he also had a nasty abdominal stretch that is very similar to a standing twister. Makes me wonder why the Sheik who was an actual member of the Iranian Olympic wrestling team and ironically a coach for the USA Olympic wrestling team just didn’t take his opponent to the ground to finish his opponent.

Eddie Bravo Twister Demonstration

#2 Brutus Beefcake’s sleeper is a rear naked choke

Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake had a gimmick where he would put his opponents to sleep and then cut their hat while they were still out. If he really were choking out his opponents I think they would be pulling on his arms for dear life rather than flailing their arms.

Bas Rutten Rear Naked Choke Demonstration

#3 Tazz’s Tazzmission is a nogi Kata Ha Jime choke

Tazz’s gimmick was an early UFC fighter. Tazz trained in judo and used a version of the Kata Ha Jime choke during his ECW and WWE runs.

Kata Ha Jime Demonstration

#4 Dean Malenko’s Texas Cloverleaf

Dean Malenko’s nickname was “The Man of a 1,000 Holds.” His gimmick was of a stone-faced technical old school catch wrestler. During his run in WCW in the mid to late 1990s, he adopted the Texas Cloverleaf as his finishing submission hold.

Texas Cloverleaf Leg Lock Demonstration

#5 Terry Funk’s Spinning Toehold

Terry Funk is a hardcore legend, but started his career as a technical wrestler with the ability to brawl. He and his brother Dory Funk Jr. both had runs as the NWA World Champion in the 1970s. Both also used a standing toe hold as their finishing moves.

Toe Hold Demonstration

#6 Ric Flair’s Figure Four Leg Lock

Everybody has tried to put the figure four leg lock on their little brother or college roommate. My roommate put it on me and it actually did hurt. Wooooohhh!